Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Khamenei Urges Gulf Rulers to Unite Against Real Enemy
Iran’s leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sent a message to Muslim countries, especially countries around the Gulf.
He said these countries should work together and defend one another.
He told them to identify and confront what he called their “real enemy.”
He said arguments and divisions between Muslim countries make it easier for their opponents to act against them.
He also asked whether Palestinians would be in such a difficult situation if Muslims had stayed united.
The message was released during Islamic Unity Week, which marks the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
Gulf countries have security relationships with the United States but also have economic and diplomatic ties with Iran.
This makes it difficult for them to avoid being pulled further into tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged Muslim countries, especially Gulf states, to unite against what he called their “real enemy.”
In a Telegram message released during Islamic Unity Week, he called for cooperation across fields and mutual defence among Muslim nations.
Khamenei said divisions knowingly or unknowingly help Islam’s enemies and asked whether Palestinians would be so helpless if Muslims were united.
He questioned whether outsiders would have threatened Gulf lands and interests if regional governments and peoples had acted together under Islam’s banner.
The appeal comes amid tensions involving Iran, the United States and Gulf states, which host U.S. facilities while maintaining ties with Tehran.
- Who
- Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei addressed Muslim countries, particularly Gulf Arab rulers.
- What
- He called for Muslim unity, cooperation and mutual defence against what he described as a common enemy.
- When
- The message was released during Islamic Unity Week; one report dated it August 30.
- Where
- The appeal focused on West Asia and the Gulf.
- Why
- Khamenei said divisions among Muslims serve their adversaries and weaken collective security.
Iranian Unity Appeal
Gulf Security Concerns
Regional cooperation
Iranian Unity Appeal
Khamenei says Muslim governments and peoples should overcome divisions, identify common threats and establish stronger collective defence.
Gulf Security Concerns
Gulf monarchies have historically regarded Iran’s revolutionary ideology and regional influence as threats to their political systems.
Role of outside powers
Iranian Unity Appeal
The message argues that Muslim countries should unite under Islam’s banner rather than allow dependence on outsiders and internal divisions to weaken them.
Gulf Security Concerns
Gulf states host important U.S. military facilities while maintaining economic and diplomatic ties with Iran, making their security choices difficult.
Future security arrangements
Iranian Unity Appeal
Khamenei’s appeal supports stronger security cooperation among Muslim-majority countries.
Gulf Security Concerns
The reports say some Gulf and wider regional countries are considering alternatives such as a Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia framework, while political differences with Iran remain.
- Message source
- Mojtaba Khamenei’s Telegram account
- Occasion
- Islamic Unity Week, marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
- Main proposal
- Greater Muslim cooperation and mutual defence
- Palestinian reference
- Khamenei asked whether Palestinians would have been left “so helpless” if Muslims had remained united
- Gulf tensions
- The reports say Tehran has struck U.S. military facilities and other infrastructure in Gulf states during the present conflict
- Gulf concerns
- Gulf monarchies have traditionally viewed Iran’s revolutionary ideology, anti-monarchic rhetoric and regional influence as threats
- Khamenei’s absence
- The reports say he has not appeared publicly since being injured in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes six months earlier
Sources
Iran’s Khamenei urges Gulf rulers in written message to confront ‘real enemy’
Iran's Khamenei Urges Gulf Rulers In Written Message To Confront 'Real Enemy'
Iran’s Khamenei calls on Gulf rulers to unite against ‘real enemy’ amid US tensions
